I Ended Up Snatching a Marriage With the Male Lead! - Chapter 81

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I’d somehow ended up in a sham marriage with the male lead.
Chapter 81

Lucas’s mind held no trace of his mother’s warnings.
‘The Duke was concerned about Emilia’s ex-lover?’
Lucas frowned. From the knights he’d subtly questioned, he’d gleaned the man’s name.
‘So House Valen knows about this Cedric fellow too.’
But what was this pointed concern all about?
He couldn’t begin to fathom what the Duke truly thought of Emilia.
Was it merely to keep the sham marriage from being discovered?
‘Or perhaps…….’
Lucas forced a smile and offered a casual excuse.
“I’m afraid I’ve shown you an embarrassing sight. Father simply loves Mother dearly, you see.”
“Not at all. It’s rather endearing.”
“Is that so.”
Lucas tilted his head, then ventured something weighted.
“Since it’s just the two of us now, shall we speak of other matters, Your Grace?”
Kaiden’s eyebrow twitched.
“We understand each other’s circumstances well enough, don’t we?”
“Circumstances…….”
“You know what the Princess did, and I know that Your Grace entered into a sham marriage.”
Lucas shrugged as if to say his words were irrefutable, then continued.
“By the way, has your wife not mentioned our connection?”
“She has. Though I’m not sure it was quite so significant.”
At Kaiden’s skeptical tone, Lucas’s jaw tightened.
It was a cutting remark—especially after he’d confessed his feelings only to be laughed at and told not to joke.
“Ha, still, I’d like to think Emilia and I are quite close.”
At the way he spoke her name so naturally, Kaiden’s gaze darkened perceptibly.
“……I see.”
“So if I may offer a word of advice, Your Grace?”
Kaiden gestured for him to continue with a slight nod of his chin.
“Since this marriage will end soon anyway, wouldn’t it be better to treat Emilia with more consideration?”
“Consideration?”
“Yes. She may face difficulties later if she meets another man, don’t you think?”
At that, Kaiden’s mouth curved into a thin smile.
“Is this concern truly only for my wife’s sake?”
“……Of course.”
“That’s hard to believe, when you seem to have taken quite a keen interest in her yourself.”
Kaiden’s voice had turned sharp.
“I find it rather distasteful.”
“Distasteful?”
“Yes. My wife attracts unwanted attention from other men, and as her husband, I naturally find it displeasing.”
Kaiden regarded Lucas with eyes that radiated genuine irritation.
In that moment, Lucas’s hands clenched into fists.
Those words could never have escaped his lips if he harbored no feeling for Emilia whatsoever.
Come to think of it, his gaze had been so cold from the moment he entered the Mansion.
When he considered it, there were precious few people at the Duke’s Estate—there was no need to ask Emilia specifically for a sham marriage.
Though of course, Emilia seemed unaware of the Duke’s true intentions.
‘Perhaps I should count my blessings for that.’
Emilia had clearly said she’d divorce the moment this was over.
But seeing that possessive glint in the Duke’s eyes, Lucas felt an unbidden spike of anxiety.
So he forced an affable smile and reached for the Wine bottle beside him.
“Ha, I was merely speaking out of concern, so think nothing of it.”
Without hesitation, he poured the Wine into a glass.
“But will you accept a glass? Mother insisted I see you well entertained.”
Ordinarily, one ought to ask a guest’s preference before pouring—
but now that Lucas knew for certain the Duke harbored feelings for Emilia, petty as it might be, he had no wish to send him back to the Duke’s Estate tonight.
“Is this much acceptable?”
Kaiden studied the brimming glass for a moment, then turned his gaze to Lucas.
In doing so, he recalled what Emilia had said of him.

“In a way, he’s on our side.”

‘On our side?’
Kaiden’s eyebrow twitched, and without hesitation he lifted the Wine glass.
Well. What was certain was that the man was not on his side.

* * *

‘Kaiden…… Still isn’t home.’
The heavy downpour continued even in the dead of night.
And Kaiden, though it was well past midnight, had yet to return.
Emilia felt a flutter of worry.
Of course, she knew the Duke’s Estate carriage was sturdy beyond measure—
‘Surely it didn’t slip on the wet road.’
It was unusual for Kaiden to return this late, and idle thoughts began to creep in.
Emilia tore her gaze from the window she’d been glancing at and returned to her book.
Then a sound came from outside.
‘He’s here!’
Emilia jumped to her feet.
She threw on her outer robe and started toward the door, then hesitated.
‘Wait. Isn’t this strange?’
She wasn’t even his real wife—rushing downstairs the moment he returned was unseemly.
Emilia paused with her hand on the doorknob, lost in thought.
‘It’s just… I’m only checking that he came back safely.’
Having settled the matter, she descended the staircase.
But Kaiden was nowhere to be seen on the first floor.
Only a butler stood motionless.
Spotting Emilia, Robert’s expression brightened.
“My lady, are you still awake?”
“Ah, yes…….”
Emilia nodded, looking faintly embarrassed. She glanced around before asking Robert.
“I heard a sound outside—has the Duke not arrived yet?”
“He just returned.”
“Ah, I see.”
Reassured by Robert’s words, Emilia was about to head back to her room when—
Robert suddenly let out a heavy sigh.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well, the master has returned, but I’m rather concerned, you see.”
“Concerned?”
“He came in having had something to drink.”
Emilia blinked, not understanding.
“Ah, the thing is—the master typically doesn’t drink at all.”
Robert added that he worried something might have happened, which is why he mentioned it.

* * *

Emilia stood before Kaiden’s bedroom door, deliberating for a moment before knocking softly.
But no answer came.
‘Did he fall asleep so quickly?’
As she tilted her head, a troubling thought crossed her mind.
What if he’d hit his head in a drunken stupor?
Robert’s mention of how he never touched alcohol gnawed at her.
She knew one shouldn’t enter another’s bedroom without permission, but……
‘Just a quick check to see he’s alright, then I’ll leave.’
With that resolve, Emilia carefully opened the door and peered inside.
There, sitting on the bed with his head bowed, was Kaiden.
Emilia approached quietly to assess his condition.
‘Hmm.’
He didn’t appear to be hurt, at least.
But his clothing troubled her.
He still wore his jacket, soaked through with rain.
So Emilia called to him softly.
“Your Grace.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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